Fluid container cover

Abstract

A fluid container includes a spout and a cap, where the spout has an actuation portion that is inclined with respect to a drinking portion of the spout. The spout is actuated from a closed position to an open position with an external force applied on the actuation portion. A channel through the spout encompasses an oblique angle, and the spout is pivotally coupled to the cap at a fulcrum point. The fulcrum point is laterally offset from an aperture in the cap, where the aperture forms a passageway through a thickness of the cap. The channel adjoins the aperture when the spout is in the open position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid container cover comprising:
 a spout comprising a drinking portion, an actuation portion and a channel through the spout, wherein the actuation portion is inclined with respect to the drinking portion, and wherein the channel encompasses an oblique angle; and 
 a cap having an aperture, wherein the aperture forms a passageway through a thickness of the cap; 
 wherein the spout is pivotally coupled to the cap at a fulcrum point, wherein the fulcrum point is laterally offset from the aperture, the lateral offset being in a radial direction with respect to a circumference of the cap; 
 wherein the spout is capable of being actuated from a closed position to an open position by an external force applied on the actuation portion, wherein the drinking portion of the spout is capable of being rotated substantially more than 90 degrees to the open position; and 
 wherein the channel adjoins the aperture when the spout is in the open position. 
 
     
     
       2. The cover of  claim 1  wherein fulcrum point is offset from the aperture by at least 0.1 cm. 
     
     
       3. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the oblique angle is between 150 to 180 degrees. 
     
     
       4. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the actuation portion is elevated above the cap when the spout is in the closed position. 
     
     
       5. The cover of  claim 1  further comprising a depression in the cap, wherein the spout is seated in the depression, and wherein the depression comprises a raised lip enclosing at least a portion of the spout when the spout is in the closed position, and wherein the raised lip is elevated above a top surface of the cap. 
     
     
       6. The cover of  claim 1  wherein the external force is a pushing force. 
     
     
       7. A drinking container cover comprising:
 a cap adapted to be coupled to a drinking container; and 
 a spout having a drinking end, an actuation end and a fulcrum point, wherein the spout is pivotally coupled to the cap at the fulcrum point, and wherein the spout further comprises a channel extending through the spout from the actuation end to the drinking end of the spout; 
 wherein the cap comprises an aperture forming a passageway that allows fluid to pass from an underside of the cap and through the spout; 
 wherein the fulcrum point of the spout is positioned between the aperture in the cap and the actuation end of the spout, the fulcrum being laterally offset from the aperture in a radial direction with respect to a circumference of the cap; 
 wherein the spout is capable of being actuated by an external pushing force applied on the spout near the actuation end of the spout; 
 wherein the spout moves from a closed position to an open position when actuated; and 
 wherein when in the open position, (i) the aperture in the cap is in fluid communication with the channel through the spout and (ii) the drinking end of the spout is rotated substantially more than 90 degrees from the closed position. 
 
     
     
       8. The cover of  claim 7  wherein the channel comprises a path from the actuation end to the drinking end of the spout, wherein the path is non-linear. 
     
     
       9. The cover of  claim 7  wherein the drinking end is pivoted upward with respect to the cap when the spout moves to the open position. 
     
     
       10. The cover of  claim 7  wherein the cap further comprises a raised lip forming a depression configured to receive the spout, wherein the raised lip is elevated above a top surface of the cap. 
     
     
       11. The cover of  claim 7  wherein the spout extends across a majority of the diameter of the cap. 
     
     
       12. The cover of  claim 7  wherein the fulcrum point is laterally offset from the aperture by a distance greater than zero. 
     
     
       13. A drinking container cover comprising:
 a spout having a drinking end, an actuation end and a spout length between the drinking end and the actuation end, the spout comprising:
 a channel through the spout length; 
 a first coupling element located at a first distance from a back end of the spout, wherein the back end is opposite the drinking end; and 
 an actuation area, wherein the actuation area includes an actuation portion extending from the actuation end of the spout to less than the first distance; and 
 
 a cap having a top surface and an underside, wherein the cap is adapted to be coupled to a drinking container, the cap comprising:
 a depression on the top surface of the cap, wherein the depression is shaped to receive the spout, wherein the depression has a second coupling element that is configured to pivotally receive the first coupling element; and 
 an aperture extending from the underside of the cap to the depression, wherein the aperture is laterally offset from the second coupling element, the lateral offset being in a radial direction with respect to a circumference of the cap; 
 
 wherein the spout is capable of being actuated by exerting a pushing force on the actuation area, wherein actuation of the spout pivots the spout from a closed position to an open position, wherein the drinking end of the spout is pivoted upward with respect to the cap and rotates substantially more than 90 degrees to the open position, and wherein the channel adjoins with the aperture when the spout is in the open position. 
 
     
     
       14. The cover of  claim 13  wherein the first distance is at least 0.5 cm. 
     
     
       15. The cover of  claim 13  wherein the actuation area is elevated above the top surface of the cap in the closed position, wherein when the spout is in the closed position, a height from a bottom surface of the cap to the actuation area enables a user to actuate the actuation area and hold the drinking container with a one-handed operation. 
     
     
       16. The cover of  claim 13  wherein the depression comprises a raised lip above the top surface of the cap, wherein the raised lip surrounds the drinking end of the spout. 
     
     
       17. The cover of  claim 13  wherein the depression comprises a pivoting area in which the actuation area of the spout rotates when the spout moves between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       18. The cover of  claim 13  wherein the channel extends from the drinking end to the actuation end of the spout, and wherein the channel forms an oblique angle. 
     
     
       19. The cover of  claim 18  wherein the oblique angle is at least 150 degrees.